Looking into the Future of Work: Challenges and Opportunities
Image credits: Artem Podrez via Pexels.
AI, climate change, hybrid work, longer lifespans… what challenges and opportunities can we spot today for the future of work?
Here are three ideas from my focus areas of biotech, medicine, agriculture, and sustainability:
💡 Rising temperatures and extreme weather will impact the health and safety of people who work outdoors. Farm workers, delivery people, construction workers, miners, and others (particularly in cities) are all at risk of severe illness and even death from heat and humidity. Also expect financial losses for workers and companies when it’s simply too hot to work.
Image credits: Alex Knight via Unsplash.
💡 Psychological safety and mental health at work will be deeply entwined with technology as digital and hybrid work and AI grow. Tech can foster trust, or it can undermine it—highlighting the importance of mindful adoption (and ongoing monitoring) of new workplace tools. It will be increasingly easy and cheap to gather vast amounts of data on employees and their activity, but what information is actually useful (and ethical) for both employers and employees? And how will employees be sure that their data is safe? Digital safety and health may rise to be as important as physical safety in the workplace.
💡 Longer careers will bring new considerations about workplace safety. How will companies support the safety of older workers, for example for physical labor? Can career trajectories be flexible enough to consider changes in our occupational health and safety needs as we age? How can employers help mitigate the impact on work of chronic diseases, which become more common with age?
Here are a few links to help you start exploring the ideas I sketched above.
Do you or your organization want to help build the best possible future?
Check out my website to learn more about ways we can work together.
Or send me a message, and let’s talk!
About Tiffany
Dr. Tiffany Vora speaks, writes, and advises on how to harness technology to build the best possible future(s). She is an expert in biotech, health, & innovation.
For a full list of topics and ways to collaborate, visit Tiffany’s Work Together webpage.
Donate = Impact
After a 19-day voyage to Antarctica aboard The Island Sky in November 2023, Tiffany has many remarkable stories to share & a wealth of insights to catalyze a sustainable future.
You can support her ongoing journey by making a contribution through her donation page. Your support will spread positive impact around the world, empower Tiffany to protect time for impact-focused projects, and support logistical costs for pro bono events with students & nonprofits.